Bill Miles facts for kids

William Miles (born April 18, 1931 – died May 12, 2013) was an American filmmaker. He made movies about important parts of history. Miles was born in Harlem, New York City. He knew a lot about Harlem and used this knowledge to create films. His movies told special and inspiring stories about Harlem's past.

Miles worked at Thirteen/WNET in New York City. He produced many films about the experiences of African Americans. These films were shown all over the country. Before becoming a filmmaker, Miles spent 25 years restoring old films. This work helped him learn how to make historical documentaries.

Today, William Miles' films and other materials are kept at the Washington University Film & Media Archive in St. Louis, Missouri. This collection includes his films, interviews, old video clips, photos, and his personal notes.

William Miles' Films: A Look at History

William Miles made many important films. His movies often focused on African-American history and culture. He wanted to share stories that people might not know.

Men of Bronze: Harlem Hellfighters' Story

Miles' first big film was Men of Bronze. It was shown at the New York Film Festival in 1977. Later, it was broadcast on PBS. This film tells the story of the 369th Infantry Regiment. These were black American soldiers known as the Harlem Hellfighters.

Because of segregation, they fought under the French flag in World War I. This regiment spent more time fighting on the front lines than any other American unit. They fought alongside French, Moroccan, and Senegalese soldiers.

I Remember Harlem: A Deep Dive into a Famous Neighborhood

His most famous work is a four-part series called I Remember Harlem (1981). This series explores the rich history of Harlem. It starts in the 1600s and goes up to the early 1980s. The film shows how Harlem changed over time.

The series covers many topics. It looks at Harlem's early days and how it was settled. It also covers the exciting period of the Harlem Renaissance. The film shows how the Great Depression affected Harlem. It also explores the Civil Rights Movement and leaders like Malcolm X. Finally, it looks at the problems and rebuilding efforts in the 1970s.

Black Americans in Sports and Space

Miles made other important films too. The Different Drummer: Blacks in the Military (1983) focused on African-American soldiers in more recent times. His three-part series Black Champions (1986) was about African-American athletes. It showed their role in fighting against unfair treatment.

This series highlighted amazing performances by black athletes at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It also featured Jackie Robinson breaking barriers in baseball. It showed Althea Gibson's achievements in tennis. The careers of early black football stars were also included.

Miles also co-produced a film about writer James Baldwin. This film, The Price of a Ticket, came out in 1989. Black Stars in Orbit (1990) was a documentary about African Americans in the space program. He also co-produced Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II (1992). This film continued his focus on black soldiers' experiences. It showed their role in freeing people from Nazi concentration camps.

Another film, The Black West, was part of a TV series. It told the story of African Americans in the western U.S. in the late 1800s.

Awards and Recognition

William Miles received many honors for his work. He won an Emmy Award for his films. He was also nominated for an Academy Award. He was recognized for his great contributions to film history.

• Emmy Awards
• Oscar nomination (1992)
• Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Independent Video and Filmmaker (AIVF)
• Award of Excellence, Communications Excellence to Black Audiences (CEBA)
• Alfred I. Dupont - Columbia Award (1982)